Fallout 4 announced for PS4, Xbox One, and PC: what we know so far - UPDATE: release date unveiled at E3

Games developers Bethesda know a thing or two about creating life-enveloping role-playing video games.

As the company behind the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series, they’ve developed some of the most progressive, inventive and expansive games in the genre, blending open-world exploration, thrilling fantasy combat, and epic quests in fully-realised game-worlds brimming with personality.

With their last full game, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, arriving four years ago anticipation for Bethesda’s new epic is at an all-time high, especially with the E3 2015 gaming exposition on the horizon.

Now we know exactly what Bethesda's latest game will be – a new instalment in the Fallout series, a franchise set in an irradiated post-apocalyptic American wasteland. Here’s what we know so far.

1) It’s definitely Fallout 4

OK, so we kind of knew this thanks to bits of leaked information, as well as the fact that a countdown clock appeared on the website fallout.bethsoft.com. However, the real confirmation came as the site accidentally went live an hour early, leaking this concept art image:

There it is, in the bottom right corner – Fallout 4. A video link was also spotted on the leaked website, though the video itself was not live.

2) It’s next-gen

Obviously. Fallout 4 is Bethesda’s first offline RPG since the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launched (though their online MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online, is coming on June 9), so it will be the first time we see what they’ve managed to do with the additional firepower of the new console generation. Fallout 3 and Skyrim on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 were truly massive games with huge amounts of explore, so whatever they have planned for next-gen will probably blow our minds.

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The Witcher 3 (May 19)

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Batman: Arkham Knight (June 23)

4/8
Assassin's Creed Syndicate (October 23)

5/8
Fallout 4 (November 10)

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Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 (Coming soon)

7/8
Guitar Hero Live (Coming soon)

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Ratchet & Clank (Coming soon)

PlayStation / Insomniac Games

3) It's set in Boston (or, "The Commonwealth Region")

As the rumour mill suggested. Each Fallout game is set in a different city which affects the tone of the instalment. Most recently we had Fallout 3, set in Washington DC (the “Capital Wasteland”), and Fallout: New Vegas, which brought the series to the city of sin with casino-themed gangs and factions in the desert. The Boston setting in Fallout 4 is expected to increase the level of AI robotics and technology, courtesy of The Institute – the organisation that remains from the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

As we see from the game's trail (see below), Bethesda are also playing on the industrial engineering side of Boston's history, with retro-futuristic dockyard settings.

4) The trailer looks glorious

Here it is, in full HD glory. We're treated to a look at the original nuclear blast, as the trailer flips between the initial attack and the wasteland that we know.

5) This is the box art

As confirmed by the pre-order page, here's the wonderful artwork that will be adorning your shelf on the game's release.

Update:

6) It's out before the end of the year

With more of the game shown at E3 2015, Bethesda announced that we won't be waiting too long to play Fallout 4 - the game is set to arrive on November 10.

7) There's a companion game on iOS

If you need a Fallout fix right this minute, you may be in luck - Bethesda announced an iOS game, Fallout Shelter, which has you looking after your own underground bunker. Best of all, it's absolutely free to download and play!

8) The special edition looks absolutely amazing

Ever wanted your own Pip-Boy? Well, with the special edition release of Fallout 4, you can own one - it works and everything. Take a look at what comes with the special package.

9) This is what the gameplay is like

The Bethesda E3 conference showed off various features and gameplay from Fallout 4. Watch some of the highlights here.